Washington: Gun Control Bills Fail to Meet Deadline

Sunday, February 4, 2018

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Friday, February 2nd marked the deadline for bills to be voted out of committee in the house in which they originated. As previously reported, several anti-gun bills received committee votes prior to this deadline; however, many of the bills NRA-ILA has been actively opposing in Olympia failed to receive a vote before the cut-off and are likely defeated for the year. Thank you to NRA members and Second Amendment supporters for attending committee hearings, contacting legislators, and for your continued involvement during the legislation session.

House Bill 1134/Senate Bill 5050, filed at the request of Attorney General Bob Ferguson, would have prohibited the possession, purchase, sale, or transfer of commonly owned semi-automatic rifles and standard capacity ammunition magazines holding more than ten rounds. Failed to meet committee deadline.

House Bill 2422/Senate Bill 6049, also filed at the request of Attorney General Ferguson, would have targeted standard capacity ammunition magazines by arbitrarily branding them as “Large Capacity Magazines,” and would have prohibited the possession of magazines holding more than ten rounds, with limited exceptions. Those allowed to continue possession of “Large Capacity Magazines” within the limited exceptions would be required to lock up their ammunition magazines or face criminal charges. Failed to meet committee deadline.

House Bill 2666/Senate Bill 6146 would have abolished Washington’s decades old state firearm preemption statute. The state preemption statute, passed in 1983, helps keep firearm and ammunition laws consistent throughout Washington by establishing that the State Legislature has full authority to regulate and create laws pertaining to firearms and ammunition. These statutes help prevent a confusing patchwork of gun control laws which make it difficult for gun owners to ensure that they are following the law. Failed to meet committee deadline.

Substitute Senate Bill 5463 would have created civil liability for individuals that do not lock up their firearm if it is obtained and used by a prohibited person in the commission of a crime or to cause harm or injury to another. While NRA encourages storing firearms in a manner that is appropriate for your personal situation, there is nothing in SB 5463 that would have protected individuals who had their firearms stolen or acquired by illegal entry, theft, or burglary. A firearm owner should not be held liable for the crimes committed by a prohibited person who has illegally obtained their firearm. Failed to meet committee deadline.

Senate Bill 6415 would have required individuals to ask for express consent to conceal carry a firearm at the residence of another person. Failure to obtain permission prior to entering the property would result in a misdemeanor crime. Individuals convicted of this new offense would have been required to surrender their concealed pistol license, and would have been prohibited from obtaining a CPL for five years. This vaguely drafted legislation would have targeted Washington’s law abiding CPL holders, and as drafted, could even have made it a crime for law enforcement to enter one’s property without first requesting permission to carry their firearm. Failed to meet committee deadline.

House Bill 2293 would have prohibited law-abiding individuals from being able to carry a firearm for self-defense at child day care centers and early learning facilities, with limited exceptions. Under this legislation, child care centers would have also been required to post "GUN-FREE ZONE" signs on the premises. Failed to meet committee deadline.

Again, thank you to NRA members and Second Amendment supporters for your continued involvement this session. Please stay tuned to your email inbox for further updates as we continue the fight to protect Second Amendment rights in the Evergreen State.

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.